Locking and release means in a switch assembly



3,528,099 LOCKING AND RELEASE MEANS IN A SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 25,1968 Sept. 8, 1970 A. A. D] PILLA s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-I FIG-'2 74 TTOINVENTOR.

ANTHONY A. DiPlLLA HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1970 A. A. DI PILLA 3,5

LOCKING AND RELEASE MEANS IN A SWITCH ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 25, 1968 sShets-Sheetfi I04 46 v10a -1NVENTOR. ANTHONY A. DiPILLA ms ATTORNEYS$528,099 LOCKING AND RELEASE MEANS IN A SWITCH ASSEMBLY 5, 1968 p 1970 NA. A. DI PILLA 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

7 INVENTOR. ANTHONY A. DiPlLLA HIS ATTORNEYS m W F FIG-8 United StatesPatent 6 3,528,099 LOCKING AND RELEASE MEANS IN A SWITCH ASSEMBLYAnthony A. Di Pilla, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Robertshaw (JontrolsCompany, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 25, 1968,Ser. No. 700,492 Int. Cl. H01h 9/02, 9/18 US. Cl. 200-168 26 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch assembl has a casing into which apush button construction means is insertible. The push buttonconstruction means has an operator push actuator and a lamp holder meansthat are relatively movable with respect to each other, and areassembled as a unitary push button construction. The push buttonconstruction is insertible as a unit into the casing and isautomatically locked during the insertion procedure. After the pushbutton construction has been locked, the push actuator may be repeatedlypushed inward and released, and this causes a switcch actuating plungercorrespondingly to acctuate and unactuate a switch means that issupported by the casing. The push button construction may be removedfrom the casing by first pulling out the push actuator, then pushing inthe push actuator slightly, and then withdrawing the entire push buttonconstruction from the casing.

This invention relates to a locking and release means in a switchassembly.

One of the features of this invention includes a switch assembly havinga casing and a push button construction or push button constructionmeans insertible into and removable from the casing. The push buttonconstruction means includes an operator push actuator means and a lampholder means which are relatively movable with respect to each other butunitarily assembled. The push button construction means may be insertedinto the casing, and is automatically locked in the casing during suchinsertion procedure. The push button construction means may be removedfrom the casing by initially pulling out the push actuator, then pushingin the push actuator slightly to produce a release action, and thenreleasing the push actuator for spring actuated outward movement of thepush button construction, and then withdrawing the entire push buttonconstruction means from the casing.

Another feature of this invention includes a lamp contactor and theplunger support base secured in the casing so that the lamps of the lampholder assembly may be energized by the lamp contactors supported on thesupport base and so that the plunger of the support base may be actuatedby the push actuator to actuate and unactuate a switch means that iscarried by the casing.

Other features of this invention are apparent from this description, theappended claimed subject matter, and/or the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the switch assembly.

FIG. 2 is an exploded cross section taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the lower section of the lampholder means and certain cooperating parts.

FIG. 4 is a cross section showing the push button construction initiallyinserted to a position where a slight resistance is imparted to downwardmovement of the push actuator.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the Patented Sept. 8.,1970 push actuator further inserted into the casing, and the lamp holderassembly having been pushed upward to lock said lamp holder means in thecasing.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, and showing the push actuatorslightly further pushed in to position said push actuator in its normalupper operable condition.

FIG. 7 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. 6, and showing the pushactuator pulled outwardly from the casing, preparatory to a withdrawalof the push button construction from the casing.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the push actuator and thelamp holder means, such view being taken generally along the line 8-8 ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic plan view of the lower section of the lampholder means, taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 2, and showingdiagrammatically certain parts cooperating therewith.

FIG. 10 is an upward view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 2.

Certain words may be used in this specificcation and the claimed subjectmatter indicating direction, relative position, and the like. Such wordsare used for the sake of brevity and clearness. It is to be understood,however, that such words are used only in connection with the views ofthe drawings, and that in actual use, any parts or movements describedby such words may have entirely different direction, relative position,and the like. Examples of such words are vertical, horizontal, upper,

' lower, and the like.

This invention may include a push button construction or a push buttonconstruction means 20 insertible into, and removable from, a casing 22,such as into and from a casing aperture means, or casing upper end 24.The casing 22 may carry a switch means 26 at the lower end 28 of suchcasing.

The push button construction means 20 may include a push actuator 30,that may be downwardly pushed by the finger of an operator, if desired,or by any other operating means. The push button construction means 20also may include a lamp holder means 32 that is unitarily assembled withthe operator push actuator 30 so that such push button constructionmeans 20 may be inserted as a unit into, and removed from, the aperturemeans 24 of the casing 22.

The casing 22 may contain a lamp contactor and plunger support base 34which may be fixedly secured in the casing 22, such as by adhesive orrivets. Such base 34 may be initially located on the supports 36 whichare secured to the casing 22.

The arrangement is such that the pushbutton construction means 20 may beinserted into the casing 22 an initial distance, such as shown in FIG.4, where a perceptible resistance is produced against further downwardmovement of the push actuator 30. At this time, the lamp holder means 32engages and comes to rest on the stationary support 38 within the casing22. Thereafter the operator may continue to press with his fingerdownwardly against the push actuator 30 to push it to the position ofFIG. 5. During this downward travel of the push actuator 30, theresistance created at FIG. 4 has terminated but a further resistance hasbeen created, as will become obvious. Also the lamp holder means 32 hasbeen moved upwardly from the supports 38 by spring action of springs 58and to be described, and the catch bars 40 have been moved outwardlybefore arrival of the lamp holder assembly to the position of FIG. 5. Asthe holder means 32 continues to rise, the end flanges 42 of the bars 40are inserted into the downwardly directed and reversely turning casinghooks 44 to arrest upward movement of the lamp holder means 32. Theoperator may continue to press his finger down on the actuator to moveit to the position of FIG. 6, at which time the catch bars have beenmoved slightly inwardly, so that their inner flanges 46 are movedinwardly over the upper shoulders 48 of a cam construction 50 which issecured to the push actuator 30 by a vertical connector bar 52. Theoperators finger may be withdrawn at this time from the push actuator30. The actuator 30 will then be in readiness at any time to be pushedfurther down to a position below that of FIG. 6 which will cause thelower end 54 of the connector bar 52 to push down a switch actuatingplunger 56 far enough to engage and push down the switch actuator rod 57of the switch means 26 to actuate the switch inside the switch means 26to actuated condition. Thereafter, the operator may remove his fingerfrom the push actuator 30, and then the plunger spring 58 will returnthe plunger 56 to the full line position of FIG. 6 and unactuate theswitch means 26 by this upward movement, as is now obvious. Thepushbutton construction means is now locked in the casing 20 until awithdrawal procedure is followed.

When it is desired to proceed with a withdrawal procedure, to remove thepushbuton construction means 20 from the casing 22, the operator maypull upward on the push actuator 30 by using the fingernail slots 60, ifdesired, as shown in FIG. 7. The push actuator 30 has pulled up the bar52, cam 50 and lower end or enlargement 54 to the position of FIG. 7.The enlargement 54 acts on the horizontal rod 62 and the catch bars 40to stop upward movement of the actuator 30. This occurs because thecatch bars 40 have their outer ends or flanges 42 hooked under thecasing hooks 44, so that the connector bar 52 cannot be pulled upwardlyany further than shown in FIG. 7.

In order to accomplish the removal of the actuator 30 and lamp holdermeans 32, the actuator 10 then is pushed downward slightly from theposition of FIG. 7 to the position of FIG. 4. This will cause theinwardly spring biased bars 40 and their outer flanges 42 to movedownward and inward from the casing hooks 44. Thereafter, the actuator30 can be lifted up out of the casing 22 and will carry with it thevertical connector bar 52 and the lamp holder means 32 out of the casing22 to the position, for example, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Then,if desired, any adjustments or repairs may be made to the separatedparts, such as a lamp replacement, etc; For example, a lamp 64 in thelamp holder means 32 may be pulled downwardly, in a well known manner,and removed from the lamp holder assembly 32 and the new lamp 64' may bereinserted therein.

Details of the parts so far described will now be further explained.

THE PUSH ACTUATOR 30 The push actuator 30 may be a lens holder whichholds a lens 66 in a lens holding casing 68.

The lens casing 68 may include two lens casing side walls 70 carried bythe top or horizontal bar 72 of a T formed with the connector bar 52.The horizontal bar 72 may be connected to both of the walls 70. Thesewalls 70 may have upward resilient tongue 74 which securely hold theflanges 67 of the lens 66 between the tongues 74 and the flanges 76 ofthe side walls 70. Any other type of push actuator 30 may be used,however, which is capable of holding one or more lenses, and which maybe connected to a vertical connector bar 52 in any desired manner.

THE LAMP HOLDER MEANS 32 The lamp holder means 32 may include agenerally flat upper section 78 and a generally flat lower section 80.These sections have respectively notches 82. and 84 at opposite ends ofthe sections 78 and 30. These notches permit inward and outward movementof the outer flanges 42, and allow the sections 78 and 80 to pass downbelow the casing hooks 44, since the notches 82 and 84 receive the hooks44 and avoid stoppage of the sections 78 and 80.

The lower section 80 of the lamp holder 30 may have a shallow channel86, FIGS. 3 and 9, with side walls 88, which receive the lower part ofeach catch bar 40. The lower section 80 also has a slightly deeperchannel which receives the horizontal bar or rod 62. The rod 62 hasdownwardly bent ends 92 which are received in the deep holes 94 and 96.The upper section 7 8 of lamp holder assembly 32 has downward cavities98, FIG. 4, which receive compression springs 100, which springs haveend plates 102 which engage the reversed ends 104 of the catch bars 40.The springs inwardly push the reversed ends 104 of the flanges 46, topush the catch bars 40' inwardly against the connector bar 52 below thecam construction 50, as in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The cam 50 has slanting edges 106, FIGS. 3 and 5, which act on the innerflanges 46 and reversed ends 104 of the catch bars 40 to push the catchbars 40 outward as in FIG. 5, where the vertical walls 108 of cam 50hold the bars 40 in their outmost position until the cam 50 is pusheddown to the position of FIG. 6. The upper shoulders 48 of the cam 50pass under the bars 40 and thus hold the connector rod 52 and theactuator 30 in the lower position of FIG. 6. From this position, theactuator 30 can be pushed down below the position of FIG. 6, so that thelower end 54 of bar 52 will engage and push down the plunger 56 to thedotted line actuating position 59 of the lower end of plunger 56.

The lower end 54 of the connector bar 52 has a rectangular thickprotrusion 110, FIGS. 3 and 7, which engages the horizontal bar 62, andthis protrusion 110 limits and stops the upward movement of the bar 52and actuator 30 at the end of the pull out action of FIG. 7.

The wedge-shaped protrusion 112 on bar 52, FIG. 3, has slanting surfaces114 and 116, which act on the bar 62 and bend such bar 62 sidewise, FIG.9, to allow the connector bar 52 to move up and down with suitableresistances when the wedge-shaped member 112 passes the bar 62.

The lamps 64 will be of the flange type, which may be pulled downthrough cylindrical lamp openings 81, FIG. 10, in the sections 78 and80. The lamps have flanges 118, With contact buttons 120, which willcome in contact with the contact heads 122. The lamps 64 may be mountedin the sections 78 and 80 in any suitable or usual manner.

For example, a central conductive plate 117, FIG. 10, may be secured tothe bottom of the lower section 80 by rivets 119. The plate 117 hasconductive flanges 121 which extend upwardly into openings 81 andelectrically contact the outer cylindrical contacts 125 of the lamps 64.The lamp contacts and are conductively connected with the filaments inthe lamps 64 to provide illumination. The contacts 120 and 125 areelectrically connected to the terminal contacts 122 and 123, FIG. 1.

The plate 117 has an opening 129' which receives the downward extension129 of the lower section 80 through which the lower end 54 of the bar 52passes to actuate the plunger 56 t0 actuating position, which is belowthat of FIG. 6.

THE CASING 22 The casing 22 may be of any suitable type which may, forexample, have straight side walls 124, to produce a rectangular orsquare tubular casing. The walls 124 may be integrally joined togetheror joined together by any other suitable means, as is obvious to thoseskilled in the art. A pair of the side walls 124 may have bottom flanges126, which may support a bottom wall 128 which is riveted to suchflanges 126, and which has an opening 130 to receive the plunger 56. Abracket supporting plate 132 may be supported on the flanges 126, andhas downward clips 134. The bracket 136 may have its top wall 137 whichreceives the clips 134- to be held thereby, and may have an opening forthe passage of the plunger 56.

The switch means 26 may be supported in the bracket 136 by suitablesupports 138, which may be of the rivet and sleeve type.

The switch means 26 may have a plurality of terminal connectors 139 tobe connected to any one or more conductors leading to any circuit orcircuits to be controlled by the switch means 26.

The plate 132 may have a plastic bearing ring or the like 140 to receivethe lower end of the plunger 56.

The plunger 56 may have a split ring 142 fixed in a suitable groove inthe plunger to limit the upward movement of such plunger, as is shown inFIG. 2.

The support base 34 may be of insulating material and secured to thecasing 22 by any suitable means, such as by adhesive material or thelike. The metal fixtures 144 maybe spot welded or the like to the casing22 and have lower ends 145 which may hold the base 34 down on stops 36.The fixtures 144 have arms 146 which are inwardly bent to form the stops38, which stop the downward movement of the lamp holder means 32. Thefixtures 144 also may form the hooks 44, which hold down the lamp holdermeans 32 in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The plunger 56 is upwardly biased by thespring 58, the lower end of which engages the flange 147 of the opening148. The upper end of compression spring 58 engages a split ring 150which is connected to a groove in the plunger 56. This upwardly biasesthe plunger 56 to the position shown in FIG. 2.

The contact heads 122 and 123 are formed at the upper ends of slidablerods 152 and 153 which are slidable in the base 34 and have flanges 154to stop the upward movement of such rods 152 and 153. Electricalconnector clips 156 may pass upwardly through the base 34, and may havehorizontally bent plates 158, which have perforations which receive therods 152 and 153. The plates 158 form the lower supports for the metalcoil springs 160 which upwardly urge the contact heads 122 and 123 ofthe rods 152 and 153 and provide an eflicient electrical contact betweenthe connectors 156 and the contact heads 122 and 123.

OPERATION The push button construction including the actuator andassembly 32 is initially inserted into the upper end of casing 22, FIGS.1 and 2. The operator may push the push actuator 30 downward to theposition shown in FIG. 4, where the lower section 80 of lamp holdermeans 32 engages the stops 38 and where the protrusion 112 engages thehorizontal rod 62. The operator feels an increased resistance due to theengagement of the wedge 112 with the rod 62. However, a further pushingaction by the operator on the push actuator 30 can cause the slantingwall 116, FIG. 3, of the protrusion 112 to push the rod 62 sidewise, asin FIG. 9, allowing the slanting edges 106 of cam 50 to push the catchbars 40- outwardly, before the lamp holder means 32 can move upwardly tothe position of FIG. 5. The flanges 42 of the catch bars 40 will beoutward ready to enter under the hooks 44 when the position of FIG. 5 isreached. The compression spring 160 and conductor heads 122 then movethe lamp holder assembly or means 32 up-,

wardly from the supports 38, so that the flanges 42 enter under thehooks 44 as shown in FIG. 5. The operator continues to push down on theactuator 30' to the position of FIG. 6, where the cam has movedsufliciently down, so that the shoulders 48 of the cam 50 can move underthe inner flanges 46 of the bars 40. This maintains the actuator 30 inthe position of FIG. 6 ready to be further pushed down below theposition of FIG. 6 to actuate the switch means 26. Therefore, at anytime thereafter, the operator may push down on the push actuator 30 fromthe position of FIG. 6, and cause the plunger 56 to be pushed down 'bythe lower end 54 of the bar 52 below the position of FIG. 6, to engagethe switch actuator 57 to energize the switch 26, as shown in dottedlines in FIG. 6. When the operator releases the push actuator 30, theplunger spring 58 returns the plunger 56 to the full line position ofFIG. 6. This may be repeated as often as desired.

When it is desired to proceed with a withdrawal action to remove thepush button construction 20 from the casing 22, when the push buttonconstruction 20 is in the actuating position of FIG. 6, the pushactuator 30 is pulled outwardly or upwardly by means of the fingernailslots 60 or the like. The cam 50 can be pulled up past the inner flanges46 because of their rounded construction, which allows the edges 108 toforce the flanges 46 slightly outward. Also the protrusion 112 can passupwardly past the horizontal rod 62 because the slanting wall 114 bendsthe rod 62 outwardly or sidewise, as shown in FIG. 9, and then thesquare sided protrusion 110, FIG. 3, engages the rod 62, and stops theupward movement of the push actuator 30 at the position shown in FIG. 7,because the lamp assembly is locked under the hooks in FIG. 7.

Thereafter, the operator pushes the actuator 30 downwardly, so that theparts move down to the position shown in FIG. 4, with the flanges 42slipping down from hooks 44 and then snapping inwardly of the hooks 44.Thereafter, the operator may pull the actuator 30 upwardly which liftsthe lamp holder means 32 upward with the actuator 30 past the hooks 44and out of the casing 22 to a position at or above that shown in FIGS. 1and 2. The separated push button construction 20 and casing 22 may thenbe repaired, adjusted or the like. The push button construction 20 canthen be returned in the casing 22 as previously described at thebeginning of this operation description.

That is, a casing 20 is provided having receiving casing aperture means24. Switch means 26 are connected with the casing 22. The push buttonconstruction means 20 is movable inward relatively to the casingaperture means by a pushing in action, such as from the position of FIG.2 to the position of FIGS. 4-6. Locking and withdrawing means areprovided to lock such push button means 20 in the operable lockedcondition of FIG. 6 by an initial locking pushing in action of the pushbutton construction means 20 into the aperture means by the cooperationof certain parts heretofore described, and said locking and withdrawingmeans also releases said push button construction means 20 from theoperable locked condition of FIG. 6, by an initial pulling out action ofsuch push button construction means 20, as shown in FIG. 7, followed bya releasing pushing in action on the push button construction means to aposition similar to that of FIG. 4. Thereafter the push buttonconstruction means 20 may be withdrawn from casing 22. This isaccomplished by certain parts as has been previously described indetail.

Such locking and withdrawing means includes inward or first latch means44 which may be hooks, and carried by the casing 22, and outwardly orsecond movable latch means 42 which may include latch bar 40 carried bythe push button construction means 20, such latch means 42 being movableinto latching engagement with the inward latch means 44 during theinitial locking pushing in action which includes, for example, thepushing in action illustrated in the sequence shown and described inconnection with FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Also said locking and withdrawing means is provided to release the pushbutton construction means 20 from the operable locked condition of FIG.6 by an initial pulling out action of said push button constructionmeans 20, as is accomplished by the various parts as shown and describedin connection with FIG. 7 when compared with such parts in FIG. 6followed by a release pushing in action on such push button constructionmeans as shown and described in connection with FIG. 4 when comparedwith FIG. 7, including the action of the latch bar 40 which moves from aposition with the latch means 42 in 7 the hook means 44 in FIG. 7 to theposition where the bar 40 has moved to the position in FIG. 4.

Also the push button construction means 20 may include the push actuator30 and the lamp holder means 32 relatively movably and unitarily securedtogether which may include the latch means 42 carried by the lamp holderAlso the withdrawing means or action may include the pulling out actionof said actuator means 30 followed by a releasing pushing in action ofsaid actuator means to become in unlatching disengagement from saidcasing latch means 44.

Also certain other parts which have been described as carried by thepush button construction means are also describable as carried by theactuator means and/or the lamp holder means which are parts of the pushbutton construction means, as is to be understood in connection with theprevious detailed descriptions thereof.

It is thus to be seen that a new, useful and unobvious locking andrelease or withdrawing means in a push button switch assembly has beenprovided.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed, asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the appended claimed subject matter.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

a casing having a receiving casing aperture means;

switch means connected with said casing;

push button construction means disposed in said casing aperture meansand being movable inward and outward relatively to said casing aperturemeans by a pushing in action and release action to actuate and unactuatesaid switch means by actuating means of said push button constructionmeans being operatively associated with said switch means when said pushbutton construction means is disposed in a locked condition in saidcasing aperture means;

and locking and withdrawing means carried by said casing and said pushbutton construction means to lock said push button construction means insaid operable locked condition by an initial locking pushing in actionof said push button construction means into said casing aperture means,and to release said push button construction means from said operablelocked condition by an initial pulling out action of said push buttonconstruction means followed by a releasing pushing in action on saidpush button construction means.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which said locking andwithdrawing means includes inward latch a means carried by said casing,and outwardly movalbe latch means carried by said push buttonconstruction means movable into latching engagement with said inwardlatch means during said initial locking pushing in action.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which said locking andwithdrawing means includes movable first latch means carried by saidpush button construction means and a second latch means carried by saidcasing, said first latch means being movable into latching engagementwith said second latch means during said first named initial pushing inaction.

4. A combination according to claim 3 in which said second latch meansincludes a hook means carried by said casing and said first latch meansincludes an outwardly and inwardly movable latch bar movable outwardlyinto latching engagement with said hook means during said initiallocking pushing in action and is movable out of engagement with saidhook means during said pulling out action followed by said releasingpushing in action.

5. In combination:

a casing having a receiving casing aperture means;

switch means connected with said casing;

push button construction means disposed in said casing aperture meansand being movable inward and outward relatively to said casing aperturemeans by a pushing in action and release action to actuate and unactuatesaid switch means by actuating means of said push button constructionmeans being operatively associated with said switch means when said pushbutton construction means is disposed in a locked condition in saidcasing aperture means;

and locking means carried by said casing and said push buttonconstruction means to lock said push button construction means in saidoperable locked condition by an initial pushing in action of said pushbut ton construction means into said casing aperture means, said lockingmeans including stationary and reversely turning hook means to lock saidpush button construction means.

6. A combination according to claim 5 in which said hook means iscarried by said casing.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which said push buttonconstruction means has latch means movable to latch with said hookmeans.

8. A combination according to claim 7 in which said latch means includesa movable latch bar carried by said push button construction means whichis movable to latch with said hook means during said initial pushing inaction.

9. In combination:

a casing having a receiving casing aperture means;

switch means connected with said casing; push button construction meansdisposed in said casing aperture means and being movable inward andoutward relatively to said casing aperture means by a pushing in actionand release action to actuate and unactuate said switch means byactuating means of said push button construction means being operativelyassociated with said switch means when said push button constructionmeans is disposed in a locked condition in said casing aperture means;

locking means carried by said casing and said push button constructionmeans to lock said push button construction means in said operablelocked condition by an initial pushing in action of said push buttonconstruction means into said casing aperture means, said locking meansincluding stationary hook means carried by said casing to lock said pushbutton construction means and including movable latch means carried bysaid push button construction to latch with said hook means, said latchmeans including a movable latch bar carried by said push buttonconstruction means which is movable to latch with said hook means duringsaid initial pushing in action said locking means also includingwithdrawing means to release said push button construction means fromsaid operable locked condition by an initial pulling out action of saidpush button construction means followed by a release pushing in actionon said push button construction means.

10. A combination according to claim 9 in which said latch bar isunlatched from said hook means during said initial pulling out actionfollowed by said last named pushing in action.

11. In combination: a casing having a receiving casing aperture meansand a casing latch means;

switch means connected with said casing;

push button construction means disposed in said casing aperture meansand being movable inward and outward relatively to said casing aperturemeans by a pushing in action and release action to actuate and unactuatesaid switch means by push actuator means of said push buttonconstruction means being operatively associated with said switch meanswhen said push button construction means is disposed in a lockedcondition in said casing aperture means, said push button constructionmeans including said push actuator means and a lamp holder meansrelatively movably and unitarily secured together, said lamp holdermeans having a lamp holder latch means to become in latching engagementwith and in unlatching disengagement from said casing latch means; andlocking and withdrawing means carried by said casing and said pushbutton construction means to lock said push button construction means insaid operable locked condition in said casing and including means tocause said lamp holder latch means to become in latching engagement withsaid casing latch means by an initial locking pushing in action of saidpush actuator means, and to release said push button construction meansfrom said operable locked condition by an initial pulling out action ofsaid push actuator means followed by a releasing pushing in action ofsaid push actuator means to cause said lamp holder latch means to becomein unlatching disengagement from said casing latch means.

12. A combination according to claim 11 in which said lamp holder latchmeans includes a catch bar having a catch bar latch means movable intolatching engagement with and unlatching disengagement from said casinglatch means.

13. A combination according to claim 12 in which said push actuatormeans has actuator cam means operatively associated with said catch barto cause said catch bar to move into latching engagement with andunlatching disengagement from said casing latch means as said cam meansis moved.

14. A combination according to claim 13 including spring means carriedby said push button construction means and being operatively associatedwith said catch bar to move said catch bar into latching engagement withsaid casing latch means and wherein said actuator cam means moves saidcatch bar into disengagement from said casing latch means.

15. A combination according to claim 14 in which said casing latch meansincludes a plurality of casing hooks secured in said casing, said lampholder means includes upper and lower sections, a plurality of catchbars carried by said push button construction means and being providedwith spring means to move their respective catch bar latch means intolatching engagement with said plurality of casing hooks, said actuatorcam means moving said plurality of catch bars into disengagement withsaid respective casing hooks, said casing having a support base withupwardly biased lamp contactors and an upwardly biased switch meansactuating plunger, said push actuator means having a vertical connectorbar for engaging and disengaging said plunger to actuate and inactuatesaid switch means.

16. A combination according to claim 15 in which said upper and lowersections have a horizontal bar, and said vertical connector bar having awedge shaped protrusion and an end protrusion to engage said horizontalbar to provide respectively a resistance to relative movement betweensaid sections and said push actuator means and to provide a limit torelative separation between said sections and said push actuator means.

' 17. In combination:

a casing having a receiving casing aperture means;

a switch means connected to said casing;

a push actuator means and a lamp holder means relatively movably andunitarily secured together, said push actuator means and said lampholder means being disposed in said casing aperture means and beinginsertable in and removable from said casing as a unit through saidcasing aperture means, said switch means being actuatable to actuatedcondition and unactuated condition by pushing in action and releaseaction on said push actuator means which is operatively associated withsaid switch means when said lamp holder means in in a locked conditionin said casing aperture means;

locking means carried by said casing and said lamp holder means to locksaid lamp holder means in said locked condition in said casing by aninitial pushing in action of said push actuator means, followed by areleasing action of said push actuator means;

and locking release means carried by said p'ush actuator means and saidlamp holder means and being operatively associated with said lockingmeans to release said lamp holder means from said locked condition by apulling out action on said push actuator means followed by a releasingpushing in action of said push actuator means.

18. A combination according to claim 17 in which said casing has acasing latch means that defines part of said locking means, and saidlamp holder means has a lamp holder latch means to become in latchingengagement with and in unlatching disengagement from said casing latchmeans, said lamp holder latch means defining part of said locking means;

and said locking release means including means to cause said lamp holderlatch means to become in latching engagement with said casing latchmeans by an initial locking pushing in action of said push actuatormeans, and to release said push actuator means and said lamp holdermeans from said operable locked condition by an initial pulling outaction of said push actuator means followed by a releasing pushing inaction of said push actuator means to cause said lamp holder latch meansto become in unlatching disengagement from said casing latch means.

19. A combination according to claim 18 in which said lamp holder latchmeans includes a catch bar having a catch bar latch means movable intolatching engagement with and unlatching disengagement from said casinglatch means.

20. A combination according to claim 19 in which said actuator means hasactuator cam means operatively associated with said catch bar to causesaid catch bar to move into latching engagement with and unlatchingdisengagement from said casing latch means.

21. A combination according to claim 20 including spring means carriedby said lamp holder means and being operatively associated with saidcatch bar to move said catch bar into latching engagement with saidcasing latch means and wherein said actuator cam means moves said catchbar into disengagement from said casing latch means.

22. A combination according to claim 21 in which said casing latch meansincludes a plurality of casing hooks secured in said casing, said lampholder means includes upper and lower sections, said lamp holder meanscarrying a plurality of said catch bars with said spring means to movetheir respective catch bar latch means into latching engagement withsaid plurality of easing hooks, said actuator cam means moving saidplurality of catch bars into disengagement with said respective casinghooks, said casing having a support base with upwardly biased lampcontactors and an upwardly biased switch means actuating plunger, saidpush actuator means having a vertical connector bar engaging anddisengaging said plunger to actuate and unactuate said switch means.

23. A combination according to claim 22 in which said upper and lowersections have a horizontal bar, and said vertical connector bar having awedge shaped protrusion and an end protrusion to engage said horizontalbar to provide respectively a resistance to relative movement betweensaid sections and said push actuator means and to provide a limit torelative seperation between said sections and said push actuator means.

24. In combination:

a casing having a receiving casing aperture means;

switch means connected with said casing;

a push actuator means and a lamp holder means relatively movable andunitarily secured together, said push actuator means and said lampholder means 11 12 being disposed in said aperture means and beinginator means followed by a releasing pushing in acsertable in andremovable from said casing as a tion of said push actuator means. unit,said switch means being actuatable to actuated 25. A combinationaccording to claim 24 in which condition and unactuated condition bypushing in said latch means is fixed on said casing. action and releaseaction on said push actuator 26. A combination according to claim 25 inwhich means which is operatively associated with said 5 said latch meansis a book means. switch means when said lamp holder means is in a lockedcondition in said aperture means; References Cited locking means carriedby said casing and said lamp UNI STATES A S holder means to lock saidlamp holder means in said locked condition in said casing by an initialpushing in action of said push actuator means, followed by a releasingaction of said push actuator means, said locking means including latchmeans carried by said casing and locking said lamp holder 15 meansduring said initial pushing in action;

and locking release means carried by said ush actuator means and saidlamp holder means and being HERMAN JONES Pnmary Examiner operativelyassociated with said locking means to 1 release said lamp holder meansfrom said locked 20 0 condition by a pulling out action on said pushactu- 10 2,904,662 9/1959 Spring.

3,090,949 5/ 1963 Hallerberg 200-l59 3,197,598 7/1965 Andersen et al.

3,249,705 5/ 19-66 Amis et a1.

3,267,245 8/ 1966 Vincent.

3,274,354 9/ 1966 Stevens.

